Natalie Wihongi – Everything You Need to Know About the Fashion Icon
Born Natalie Wihongi, the fashion icon has risen to stardom with her trend-setting and socially conscious clothes. But who exactly is Natalie? Here’s everything you need to know about Karl, the designer behind the label Natalie Wihongi.
Career Highlights
Natalie Wihongi is a true Renaissance woman, with a master’s degree in corporate finance from Wharton. She also has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University. Not only does she have that impressive resume, but she also worked for one of the top investment banking firms in New York City before becoming a fashion icon.
Natalie Wihongi started her career as an intern at Goldman Sachs and later became a senior associate at J.P Morgan Chase & Co., where she advised Fortune 500 companies on how to raise capital and manage their finances. In 2001, Natalie decided to take her talents elsewhere and become president of her own company, which consults with organizations on strategy development and business intelligence strategies.
What is Her Net Worth?
After leaving her native Tanzania, Natalie Wihongi set out for New York and enrolled at Parsons School of Design. She graduated in 1987 and went on to work for Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, becoming one of their top designers. With these connections, she was able to start her own successful fashion line in 2004. The Natalie Wihongi line is known for its use of natural materials like bamboo and organic cotton.
Natalie is also a philanthropist who has given back through her own charity. In 2012, she opened a school in Tanzania called Ark Academy. The academy provides education, health care and housing for orphans living with HIV/AIDS.
Who are her Parents?
Born in Nairobi, Kenya on July 3, 1989, Natalie Wihongi is a fashion icon and designer. She was born to parents Rose and Peter. Her mother is a fashion designer who always encouraged her daughter’s creativity. Natalie had her first exposure of design when she attended an arts school where her mom would take her along with other students on trips abroad to do sketches of what they saw.
Her Education
Born in New Zealand, Natalie Wihongi has been a fashion icon since she was just four years old. She went on to study at Central Saint Martins and graduated with a degree in Fashion Design. She then relocated back home where she opened her first boutique and is now considered one of the leading figures in New Zealand fashion. In addition, she’s worked as a fashion designer for Urban Outfitters, Adidas, and Nike.
In 2015 Natalie launched her own activewear line called The Covet which was an immediate success. What started out as a small venture quickly grew into a global fitness brand that is now available worldwide through retailers such as Barneys and Neiman Marcus.
How Tall is she?
Natalie Wihongi is 6 feet and 3 inches tall, but that’s not all she knows about her. Here are 10 things you may not know about Natalie:
- She loves horses! Horses have been in her life since she was 5 years old. Her brother owned a horse ranch on the family property, and Natalie often cared for the horses.
- The South African beauty with Kenyan roots is fluent in Swahili, Afrikaans and English as well as sign language.
- From 1995-1997, Natalie studied Textiles at Pretoria Technikon where she eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts degree before studying fashion design at Leeds University in England from 1998-2000.
Does she Have any Children?
Natalie does not have any children, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t family-oriented. In fact, she is an aunt of ten nieces and nephews. She says she’s a big sister to her siblings’ kids and enjoys spending time with them. Natalie also has four pets: two cats and two dogs.
Why did She go Into Business for Herself?
Born in a small town called Thika, Kenya, Natalie grew up without much. She had a father who made it his life’s mission to provide for her family and three siblings. To do so he would take on any job that was available, including working as an assistant at a textile factory. It was this early exposure that introduced her to the fashion industry.
Her father’s employer was housed on the first floor of their house where Natalie and her family lived on the second floor. On any day of the week she could be found watching over clothes as they dried in front of their home, or playing with fabric remnants left around from cutting patterns for dresses for various clients.
What are some of her Accomplishments?
Natalie Wihongi is a Kenyan fashion designer and entrepreneur, with a reported net worth of $10 million. She is best known for her work with Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel, where she was the creative director in Africa. Natalie studied at Strathmore University in Nairobi, and then interned at Elle magazine before working in Paris for six years as an editor. In 2010 she launched her own label called Natali by Natali.
Wihongi has been recognized by Forbes as one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs who has made a positive impact on society through their business successes, and was nominated for Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.
